title: Optimal fit of chairside-fabricated distal shoe space maintainer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Premature loss of a primary second molar may lead to space loss in the dental arch. This space loss tends to be more severe in unfavourable malocclusions. The distal shoe space maintainer (DSSM) may be beneficial in controlling the path of eruption of an unerupted permanent first molar from the primary into the early mixed dentition.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes the technique for achieving optimal fit of a chairside-fabricated band and DSSM in a single visit by contouring the distal shoe blade, and by extending it to the mesial surface of the permanent first molar.
  Upon the eruption of the permanent first molar DSSM may be modified to a reverse band-and-loop, or replaced by a lingual holding arch.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, 200-South Tower, 650 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 2M9, Canada, rezanouri@telus.net.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D003724:Dental Arch; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar; D012775:Shoes; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous